With Leo Godoy, Athletico exceeds the limit of foreigners in the squad

With the signing of Argentine right-back Leo Godoy, the Athletico exceeded the limit of seven foreigners per squad in Brazilian football. Furacão now has eight foreigners in the main group.

In addition to the players who were already at the club last season (Esquivel, Zapelli, Cuello, Arriagada and Canobbio) and Godoy, Athletico recently signed Paraguayans Mateo Gamarra and Romeo Benítez for 2024. The team, it is worth remembering, will also be led by a foreigner: Colombian Juan Carlos Osorio.

This way, at least one player on the list will have to be left out of the list per match. At the beginning of the season, Furacão will not have any problems, as left-back Esquivel and striker Arriagada are with their teams to compete in the pre-Olympic tournament. For the remainder of the year, departures are also not ruled out.

The number of foreigners at Athletico could still increase if the club signs the Uruguayan center forward Mastriani, from América-MG. Negotiations have been dragging on since last year, with Coelho making the transfer difficult.

The foreigners rule changed last season following a request from the clubs in the Brasileirão Technical Council for the CBF, in February 2023. Previously, only five foreigners were allowed per squad.

Athletico, in fact, was one of the clubs that led the request to increase the limit to seven. The change was approved by the 20 Serie A clubs at the time.

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All foreigners in Athletico’s main squad

Argentina: Leo Godoy, Esquivel, Zapelli and Cuello
Paraguay: Mateo Gamarra and Romeo Benítez
Uruguay: Canobbio
Chilea: Arriagada